1. < Digestive Health

Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)

Posted by acres @acres, Apr 12, 2016

I am trying to recover from a c.diff infection. This started with taking clindamycin in mid January and 3 days later I became ill with diarrhea and felt sick, loss of appetite etc...Went to the er twice, tested negative for c.diff on my 2nd visit. The Dr. told me to take imodium to rest my colon since I tested negative. That evening I had diarrhea and took the Imodium. Became constipated with pain lower right side. I went to a GI dr. pleading for help, I did another stool test and it came back positive for c.diff. I tried flagyl but could not tolerate the side effects. Tried vancomycin for 10 days. Did not work. Tested positive again, Went to a new gi doctor who prescribed dificid for ten days. I am 31 days post dificid and I have almost constant gut rumbling and urge to go. My 1st bm in the morning is usually semi normal, but after that they are always either pencil thin and or small pieces (2 to 5 times a day). This has been my routine since the vancomycin. I do not get dull blown diarrhea..... My dr. wants me to have a colonoscopy but I an scared that the cleansing will wipe out all my good flora. I currently take 2 florastor pills and 1/2 vsl3 per day. I eat fermented pickles for the probiotics as well..... I have many food intolerances since this whole mess began (fiber, many vegatables, dairy). I also have a strange taste in my mouth most of the time, have very little energy and fight with depression. My primary gave me Xanax .25 but I only take them at night when I cannot sleep...... Went to a nutritionist who put me on a no wheat, soy, dairy, gluten diet. Does not seem to be helping or hurting. I lost 20 pounds and cannot gain any weight (I weigh 120 at 5'7")... I am thinking it might be sibo, or candida but cannot find a dr. to test for these....I am in the right place for help or advice ? The urge to go is awful and limits my once active lifestyle.....
Thank you, Scott

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Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 22, 2022

I just deleted my personal long long story of c.diff in 2018, my reactions to all antibiotics, and how it all led to taking over 120 i think VAncomycin and with other issues that year, unrelated, never recovered ... but some people get it, take the antibiotics, and all turns out well - I was just one of the unlucky ones who had the life sucked out of me with it all and the extreme diarrhea for months 24/7, fatigue, pain, isolation, due to already having ibs-d and you cannot take anti diarrhea meds with antibiotics. It seems that some people recover quickly and forever and some of us don't and if anyone wants to hear my sob-story , it was life changing...I am thinking that maybe there are different strains of the c.diff, or it's a person's immunity, or different reaction to c.diff/medications because why do some get better quickly yet some of us are still having issues? For some it's a short inconvenience and for some ends their lives!

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bleachistheword | @bleachistheword | Sep 21, 2022
In reply to @gina1963 "Has any one recovering from cdiff ever got red peeling .itchy skin on face what could..." + (show)
@gina1963

Has any one recovering from cdiff ever got red peeling .itchy skin on face what could this be i swear it is 1 thing after another

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Its a side-effect listed on the insert for the Dificid my husband has to start tomorrow. Is that the medication you're taking? Check the insert for your medicine to see if it's a side-effect. Hope it gets better for you.

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hardingv | @hardingv | Aug 23, 2022

Does anyone have experience with using Zinplava (a monoclonal antibody) during the treatment phase of a confirmed case of c-diff to help prevent recurring c-diff?

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1 reply
beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 23, 2022

Hi Jacque, How did you get rid of your cdiff? I too, am wondering why I am not gaining back my weight. I also caught it from antibiotic given to me for diverticulitis. It also attached my arm muscle and I needed physical therapy. Never realized they could actually harm the body, besides heal it too. Go figure...

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euqcaj | @euqcaj | Aug 22, 2022

Reading these comments I feel extremely grateful and lucky. I also had C-diff and it was horrible. I have recovered but it took time. My strength was gone and my husband was afraid he was going to lose me. I was on IV's and I was praying to God. I truly wondered if my time was up. I am 70 years old, fit and active. I take care of this body I've been given. But it was Clyndamycin that resulted in me developing C-diff. My dentist prescribed it and I didn't have a clue that it had a propensity for this negative, and potentially, life threatening result. I was wondering, after reading all these comments, why is it that we did lose weight and are keeping it off? I basically eat the same way as I did before C-diff. Not that I'm complaining but also puzzled as to why. Jacque

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beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 22, 2022
In reply to @ngorman25 "@beckyt I agree 100% with you. I took enough vancomycin over 6 months to kill a..." + (show)
@ngorman25

@beckyt I agree 100% with you. I took enough vancomycin over 6 months to kill a horse! And I still kept relapsing. So, in March of 2019, I had the fmt and I believe it saved my life. I had gone down to 86 lbs. and still can't gain any weight back but feel ok. Also, once you have had cdiff, your chances of getting it again are high. So, any time my stomach acts up, I get very nervous. To this day, I continue to alternate taking visbiome and saccharomyces boulardii every day. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

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Yes, I get nervous too when I have tummy aches but its not cdiff and they Dr said if it ever comes back they will do the FMT again. But they told me not to take the Florastor. He said why mess with the good flora that is in there already. They don't want any imbalance so I don't take any pro or prebiotics anymore. As long as I eat right it's ok. Glad you are doing well now too. I have not gained my weight back either but feel great.

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ngorman25 | @ngorman25 | Aug 22, 2022
In reply to @beckyt "I found that the only cure for cdiff is a FMT. I was so lucky to..." + (show)
@beckyt

I found that the only cure for cdiff is a FMT. I was so lucky to have found a place, Metro Infectious Disease Control office, in Burr Ridge IL, where they are running a trial. I have been cdiff free for almost 3 months. No pain, nothing whatsoever. I am back to normal, eating anything, after losing 30 lbs. Best thing is that I am getting paid for the trial.

Jump to this post

@beckyt I agree 100% with you. I took enough vancomycin over 6 months to kill a horse! And I still kept relapsing. So, in March of 2019, I had the fmt and I believe it saved my life. I had gone down to 86 lbs. and still can't gain any weight back but feel ok. Also, once you have had cdiff, your chances of getting it again are high. So, any time my stomach acts up, I get very nervous. To this day, I continue to alternate taking visbiome and saccharomyces boulardii every day. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

REPLY
1 reply
beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 21, 2022

I found that the only cure for cdiff is a FMT. I was so lucky to have found a place, Metro Infectious Disease Control office, in Burr Ridge IL, where they are running a trial. I have been cdiff free for almost 3 months. No pain, nothing whatsoever. I am back to normal, eating anything, after losing 30 lbs. Best thing is that I am getting paid for the trial.

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1 reply
JerryP | @jfperrone | Aug 20, 2022

I'm no Doctor but taking vancomycin for 10 days seems to be on the short side.
I took it for 2 weeks 3x a day; then 2weeks 2x a day; then 2 weeks 1x a day.
all 250mg. Outcome so far seems good, but keeping my fingers crossed.
There seems to be a fairly frequent amount of reoccurrence.

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